L'Shana Tovah!

Happy Rosh Hashana!  Here's hoping everyone's year is filled with sweetness.  Ours sure will be!

It feels like it's been awhile since I've written, but I guess it's been less than two weeks -- things have just been busy busy busy around the Dowd household.  For starters, we had another beautiful shower last weekend!  My parents hosted a couples shower for us at the Hilton Netherland in downtown Cincinnati, a place that is really special to us because we celebrated our engagement there in 2009.  We love brunch food, and the Netherland has an AMAZING brunch, so the shower was right up our alley.  :)  Lots of family and friends came to help us celebrate, and Gavin got spoiled with tons of goodies that Stephen and I have been trying to wash and organize ever since.  It's crazy to think that we have less than two months until we get to hold our baby...wow, I am SO excited!

Speaking of celebrations, Stephen and I celebrated three years together last weekend!  I came home from work on Friday to find beautiful flowers and a sweet card from my husband, and then we went to Bloomington for the evening on Saturday!  I was given permission to travel until 32 weeks (which is TOMORROW), so we figured it might be our last chance to get out of town for a bit.  We enjoyed the drive -- there is nothing quite like Fall in Bloomington -- and then had Mother Bear's pizza (YUM) and Jiffy Treet Pumpkin Pie Cyclones for dessert.  It was all definitely worth the drive.  Our one-year wedding anniversary is next month, and Stephen won't tell me what we're doing to celebrate...but I know it'll be a little closer to home.  :)

Also, it was my mom's birthday on Monday!  Stephen had school that night (despite the Cincinnati State strike), so we held off until Tuesday and had dinner at Outback with Mom, Dad, Doug, and Mindy.  The six kids pitched in and got Mom a DVR for her birthday, so now she can record the Michigan State games and Survivor marathons and watch them at her convenience!  She does so much for all of us and always goes above and beyond for our birthdays (there's a reason I love birthdays as much as I do), so it was nice to be able to show her how much she means to us.

The nurseries have really been coming together in the past week or two.  Stephen and I helped Mom build the crib for her nursery last week...SUCCESS!  After the Dresser Debacle of 2k11, we weren't sure we were the appropriate choice to help build furniture, but the crib looks great and there were no tears involved this time.  The under-the-sea nursery is incredible.  Literally incredible.  I'll have to post pictures later, and even the pictures won't do it justice -- but Gavin and Quinn are going to have some amazing memories in that room.  Dad got Mom a 40-gallon fish tank for her birthday, so they've been having fun filling it with colorful rocks, decor, and fish.  The coolest part?  Several of the FISH are pregnant!  Or, WERE pregnant...they had babies last night!  Some of the little ones became fish food (sad sad sad), but the rest are doing just fine.  Fingers crossed that they last and grow into big fish!  As for our nursery, we had our glider delivered today and now just need to hang all the wall decor.  We're planning on doing that tonight after dinner, so I'll take some pictures to share.  Our Hungry Caterpillar bathroom is also finished and looks GREAT.  Now all we need is the baby!

Work is getting more difficult because I'm starting to feel all the effects of the third trimester -- swollen feet, aching back, sore EVERYTHING.  I'm definitely not sleeping well anymore and am feeling enormous in general.  Stephen and I have been keeping active by going to the gym a couple times a week and on walks around the neighborhood and bike trail, but I'm really excited to get back into the swing of intense workouts again.  I miss Spinning classes.  I miss being able to get on the elliptical machine for more than 20 minutes without my tummy cramping up.  I think Gavin hates the gym.  :)  He's such a stubborn little boy already!

One last thing -- CONGRATULATIONS to my super smart husband for getting an A on his first big math exam this week.  Math was the subject he was most apprehensive about, but he is succeeding with flying colors!  :)  I love coming home and seeing him doing homework and studying at the kitchen table.

Off to eat apples and honey!  L'Shana Tovah!